To Be the Perfect Childhood Friend - Chapter 78

Anita, who had little talent for remembering people’s names, knew his for two reasons. First, he was an old friend of Rutger Baylan. Anita had witnessed Rutger coldly abandoning him countless times to go with Finian.

Second, Finian was a well-known figure around campus, especially among the girls. Although Anita didn’t want to judge people based on their looks, the malicious rumors she had heard about his unpleasant appearance replayed in her mind.

“Do you know who I am?”

Anita wanted to retort that he was not important enough to block her path, but she refrained and nodded instead.

She had heard the rumors about him, but she had no personal acquaintance with him. She had only casually exchanged names with him when she happened to run into Rutger across campus. In other words, they had barely introduced themselves to each other.

“We’re going out with some friends later. Do you want to join us?”

He was truly strange. Why would he ask a person he barely knew to come along? And, more importantly, asking such a question right in front of the busy main gate of the school was odd.

“No.”

“You’re not close with Rutger? He’s coming too.”

Despite her effort to keep a cold expression and brush him off like an annoying fly, the mention of Rutger’s name broke Anita’s composure.

“Though, I suppose you might not have been invited.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“No matter how close they are as friends, it’s different when it comes to a romantic relationship. Alison probably won’t be too pleased with you.”

“Alison? Are you talking about Alison Schneider?”

Anita forgot to act like the resolute person who wouldn’t be swayed by a fraud and instead asked urgently.

“Yes. Didn’t Rutger mention it to you? They’re officially seeing each other.”

“So, they’re…”

“You’re really naive. Do you really not understand what I’m saying?”

As Anita struggled to come to terms with the unbelievable reality, Finian responded with a low chuckle. Anita realized then that when someone is extremely flustered, they can become unnervingly calm. Her heart turned cold, as if someone had poured ice water over her head.

Anita pushed back her fallen hair. Her eyes, which had been darting around to avoid her conversation partner, now fixed directly on Finian, reflecting her desire to escape.

“I understand what you mean. I just didn’t know Rutger was seeing someone. We’re not even close. We’re just neighbors, and there’s no reason for him to share trivial details with me.”

Anita had become strangely calm, more than she herself expected. It felt as if everything was falling into place. She had been caught up in a delusion that Rutger Baylan, who had disliked her so much when they were younger, might have become a little kinder. Perhaps there was a slim chance he might even like her.

The recent affectionate behavior and the sudden kiss.

It was clear he had only played with a seemingly naive girl.

“So, we’re just neighbors. That’s an apt description. So, are you coming today or not?”

He seemed more interested in whether Anita would attend the gathering rather than her emotional shock. Just as Anita was about to refuse, she felt a presence behind her.

“Well, look who’s gossiping when the person in question isn’t around, Nigel?”

Despite Finian’s peculiar expression as he stood in front of her, Anita recognized the voice immediately. Normally, she would have been flustered or awkward, but surprisingly, she was not trembling.

“So what? If not when the person isn’t here, when else would I gossip?”

Since Finian was engaged in a conversation with Rutger, he couldn’t stand in the middle like a barrier, so Anita turned to look behind her. To her surprise, Rutger was standing closer to her than she had anticipated.

Anita was so close to Rutger that she could have stepped on his foot with just one step back. Rutger’s pale blue eyes, looking down at her, were astonishingly cold. Anita didn’t look away, glaring back at him.

“Why are you two acting so awkward? Is this your first meeting? Should I introduce you?”

If Finian’s playful comment hadn’t broken the tension, they might have continued their silent standoff for the rest of the day. Rutger’s stern expression finally softened into a smile.

“There’s no need for that. As you said, we’re just neighbors. We’re quite familiar with each other.”

Although Rutger was speaking to Finian, his gaze remained fixed on Anita throughout. Glaring up at the much taller Rutger was giving Anita a stiff neck, so she abruptly turned her head. In doing so, she came face to face with a pair of eyes that seemed to be scrutinizing her.

The woman who had been behind Rutger and thus out of view was Alison Schneider, known for her well-groomed blonde hair and flawless makeup.

“Finian, I don’t really prefer crowded places, so I don’t think I can make it to the gathering. How about we meet separately instead?”

Anita turned her gaze from Alison to Finian as she spoke. Seeing Alison standing so closely behind Rutger made Anita’s blood run cold. She no longer wanted to remain in this situation, dealing with Rutger and Alison.

Her suggestion to meet separately wasn’t driven by newfound feelings for Finian. Nor was it a futile attempt to provoke jealousy from Rutger. It wasn’t about proving her worth based on romantic interest, but rather she wanted to show Rutger that she had her own value and independence.

Anita was determined not to be just a toy waiting in a dusty corner for Rutger Baylan. She wanted to prove that she wasn’t merely a passive participant in his life.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to buy a new summer hat? Let’s go before the tailor’s shop closes.”

Before Finian could respond to Anita’s suggestion, Rutger turned to Alison and said that. Anita’s eyebrows shot up in surprise at the remark.

Anita wasn’t the type to publicly shout, “We kissed yesterday! You jerk!” Her feelings were too complex for such a direct confrontation. She thought to herself that the kiss might have meant nothing, and she was probably just being overly self-conscious.

Anita turned her back on Rutger as if their encounter had never happened. Just before she did, their eyes met for a fleeting moment. The sea-blue eyes she once admired now seemed like the cold, deep sea of winter—impossible to gauge in depth or warmth.

That fleeting moment was too short to read the emotions behind those eyes.

Anita placed more importance on her dignity than on her immediate feelings. It was easier for her to pretend nothing happened rather than cling on and make a scene by kicking Rutger in the shins.

She felt a crack in her pride that she didn’t even know existed.

She wondered how foolish she must have looked in Rutger’s eyes.

Though she knew well that Rutger had probably hidden things from her that she couldn’t possibly have known, the moment was too humiliating for her to bear. The next thing Anita noticed was Rutger’s smirk, a gesture that mocked her.

He always had that kind of expression—a crooked, almost delinquent-looking smile.

“Okay.”

Alison, with a noticeably bright smile, followed Rutger as he walked away. After a few steps, Alison stopped and walked back towards Anita.

“Oh, and Mr. Aiden was looking for you.”

Alison, with a smile that seemed to imply she had done a great favor, then turned and followed Rutger out of sight.

Mr. Aiden, who taught history at Rosetta Hall, had unexpectedly called Anita over and handed her a note, asking her to run an errand. Teachers occasionally asked Anita for such favors, but she had no particular complaints, as she had nothing else to do at the moment.